320touring Posted August 3, 2019 Author Share Posted August 3, 2019 Well after 400 miles up and down to the North East meet last Sunday, the shortcomings of the tired spheres were all too evident.. Today we sought to resolve it. 40 year old Citroen suspension, what could possibly go wrong? The answer? Not too much bar one of the rear spheres not being seated properly, causing an LHM leak. The fronts were a doddle - literally Tool on Crack it Then off by hand Pela pump to draw the fluid out the strut New one on Then we broke for breakfast. LHM TANK emptied via the Pela The rears are somewhat more complicated - They are pretty much like the front struts with the spheres at one end, except they are laid horizontal in a subframe. The correct thing to do is undo the high pressure 3.5mm line (8mm union). This is ok when new but after 40years, the 8mm unions were somewhat recalcitrant. Step forward the 'cheats method'. Compress the strut down using a screwdriver to lever the sphere towards the front of the car. Careful not to snap the 3.5mm pipe. Undo the 11mm retaining clip bolt next to where the 8mm union goes in. Jack up the rear arm until it's above the shelf the strut is on. Angle the strut out, and attach the tool to the sphere. Crack the sphere and wind it off by hand. With the old sphere out, fit the new seal and sphere. Double check it's tight. It's what caused the LHM leak. Re mount the retaining clip, making sure that the sphere is located in the subframe correctly. Put it all back together - wheels on and put it on the ground. Top up the LHM TANK. Start the car Open the 12mm bolt on the accumulator sphere housing. Crack the 11mm nut on the return line to the LHM TANK. Watch for bubbles - essentially like bleeding a coolant system. Tighten the nut and bolt back up. Marvel as the car rises total cost for new suspension and brake fluid? £215. £180 for spheres £20 LHM 5l £15 sphere removal tool "Magic carpet ride" £PRICELESS stonedagain, Fraz, LightBulbFun and 28 others 27 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
loserone Posted August 3, 2019 Share Posted August 3, 2019 Winner. 320touring 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
320touring Posted August 3, 2019 Author Share Posted August 3, 2019 5 minutes ago, loserone said: Winner. Mate, it's sooooo much better than it was last week. Love it! Fraz 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
big_al_granvia Posted August 4, 2019 Share Posted August 4, 2019 Proper job 320touring 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Broadsword Posted August 4, 2019 Share Posted August 4, 2019 Excellent work. It’s an amazing car! 320touring 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beko1987 Posted August 4, 2019 Share Posted August 4, 2019 That's the one job I really wanted to do on the xantia, fit new comfort spheres all round! Even had them sat in a basket waiting... Having had them all off and pressure tested on the xm it's such a lovely job though! Very satisfying when half a foot of mud comes out the rear lines when bleeding them through Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
captain_70s Posted August 4, 2019 Share Posted August 4, 2019 You do realise that I'm going to have another drive in it now the suspensions is fixerated... Eddie Honda, 320touring and LightBulbFun 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Bell Posted August 5, 2019 Share Posted August 5, 2019 It's not like it felt "bad" to begin with so must really float now. 320touring 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
320touring Posted August 24, 2019 Author Share Posted August 24, 2019 In a fit of stupidity, I decided that as the GSA was now my daily (commuting and business use!), It would benefit from a decent clean. But first, a chat with a friend.. Home again after getting provisions, and tools assembled. Auto Glyn super resin Polish, followed Extra Gloss Protection to seal the paint after. This was the starting point - a chalky, draggy surface. I had washed the car prior to starting, so this is as good as it ever looked. Thon polisher my bro got me for Xmas has really earned its crust.. A bit more effort, plus putting the extra gloss thingy on left me with this: It's so bloody shiny, I had to put on tyre shine.. What the fuck have I become? Sudsprint, rainagain, Spiny Norman and 20 others 22 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
richardmorris Posted August 24, 2019 Share Posted August 24, 2019 A bit of silver wheel paint ( Aldi has deals) and like new. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skizzer Posted August 24, 2019 Share Posted August 24, 2019 Who are you and what have you done with Neil? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
320touring Posted August 24, 2019 Author Share Posted August 24, 2019 1 minute ago, richardmorris said: A bit of silver wheel paint ( Aldi has deals) and like new. Away man, next you'll be having me join the Citroen club! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
320touring Posted August 24, 2019 Author Share Posted August 24, 2019 1 minute ago, Skizzer said: Who are you and what have you done with Neil? I'm sorry, Neil can't come to phone right now.. Skizzer 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HMC Posted August 24, 2019 Share Posted August 24, 2019 Wow, it’s come up a treat! Did you use th same machine and products on the Oxford? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
richardmorris Posted August 24, 2019 Share Posted August 24, 2019 4 minutes ago, 320touring said: Away man, next you'll be having me join the Citroen club! No, I just like a nice GSA and you’ve made the rest of it so shiny Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
320touring Posted August 24, 2019 Author Share Posted August 24, 2019 3 hours ago, HMC said: Wow, it’s come up a treat! Did you use th same machine and products on the Oxford? Same products, but a different polisher Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Split_Pin Posted August 24, 2019 Share Posted August 24, 2019 Looks braw man! 320touring 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
davehedgehog31 Posted August 24, 2019 Share Posted August 24, 2019 It was looking braw, would never have thought there was paint that good in there, like night and day. 320touring 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
320touring Posted September 2, 2019 Author Share Posted September 2, 2019 The pot of Beige at the end of the rainbow LightBulbFun, HMC, NorfolkNWeigh and 21 others 22 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrSchwifty Posted September 3, 2019 Share Posted September 3, 2019 This topic is excellent. Great to see another shiter doing it the "right" way - i.e. just drive the damn thing and work on it as you go! I really do need to get me a GSA - they just look like nothing else. Anyone know of any GSA's for sale? Plenty on Leboncoin but that has it's downsides.....mainly having to deal with the French with minimal French language skills! 320touring 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
320touring Posted September 8, 2019 Author Share Posted September 8, 2019 This is just back from circa 600 miles to Cannock and back - a brilliant weekend as per! Seemed to average 33mpg - not bad when cruising at the limit. It started off by standing out in a sea of grey, silver and black Fuelled up, we met up with maister Fowler, and bad Cannock in 4h20mins Inc a piss stop at Tebay. Almost unheard of levels of progress! A small number of libations were consumed on the Friday evening whilst we dined, and a grand sleep was had. Saturday morning, Kirton got the chance to pilot brother_touring and I to breakfast - he was keen to drive the GSA as GS/As had been family cars when he were a pup:) Cannock was Cannock , and I managed not to buy anything! I even placed top 6 in the Cannock game - and yes, there were more than 6 players! People seemed to enjoy the bumble round the carpark game at the auctions - everyone coped admirably with piloting the GSA. Then it was on to the museum, where I took 2 pictures: "little and large" With 6cyls XM behind "1988 pt1" From there we headed north to Grange-over-sands. Why? Yup, 99p for a new centre section. The vendor seemed a good sort - he moved it up from South Yorkshire for me, and even threw is some brake pads - all for 99p! I took this picture and sent it to him:) All in all, a grand weekend! Back to the daily drive duties tomorrow. Tickman, RobT, Mrs6C and 17 others 20 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kirton Posted September 8, 2019 Share Posted September 8, 2019 Many thanks to 320T for letting me drive the GSA. The ride and engine were as I remember my father's gs's but the switchgear, speedo etc were out of this world crazy, proper Citroen 320touring and jaypee 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
320touring Posted September 20, 2019 Author Share Posted September 20, 2019 This continues to be the daily News the hardest worked of all the fleet. Today, it was hauling all the packaging from the new fridge freezer - the hatchback makes such a difference over the boot of the GS.. hard graft indeed! However, the confusion was the tank filling that occurred after - just about 25mpg. I still think it is running rich, and the exhaust blow is not helping. I think I'll order new exhaust clamps and try to sort it soon. In other news re this veeehickle, I'm continuing in my "grab as many spares as you can" approach, ably abetted by Kiltox this time. Many thanks to Kiltox for taking in the spares I acquired. First up, a fuel tank and front/rear bumpers and some side strips And a full set of glass stereotype, 500tops, chodweaver and 8 others 11 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
320touring Posted September 28, 2019 Author Share Posted September 28, 2019 Well that was fun* Decided to patch going to the unit as it's too nice a day. Callandar for Pie chips and beans is the plan.. Get out of Lennoxtown, and the GSA Comes over all CMS206 Stellar. Refusing to idle, won't accelerate. Pull over to side of road and find: This wee pipe had come off. Reattached it, and it was running sweet. Get exactly hauf way to destination and it does it again. Pulled off the road and gave it the "hand on carb" treatment. Made Callander, and had Scran - Steak and haggis pie, chips n beans:) Came back home fine. Will keep an eye on it for a bit.. LightBulbFun, RayMK, strangeangel and 3 others 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
320touring Posted October 20, 2019 Author Share Posted October 20, 2019 Up and out early this morning - the mission : collect part of the latest spares haul I had secured. Young Mr Kiltox very helpfully recieved the goods at his unit in Gloucester, and brought part of them up to sunny Maybole for me to collect. Front and rear bumpers, a fuel tank/level sender and door rubbing strips. the rest of the stuff needs wrapping in bubble wrap before transportation can occur stereotype, Split_Pin, Eddie Honda and 3 others 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
320touring Posted February 21, 2020 Author Share Posted February 21, 2020 Prior to getting the Toledo MOT'd my brother @jaypee came over on Thursday afternoon so we could try to get the GSA up and running. It had sat since October 23rd when I got the ML... Previous attempts had resulted in flooding and the battery becoming flat. We constructed a bonnet stay The plugs were fouled, so we cleaned a couple and away it went. I got the parts loaded out of it, and then took it over to swap it with the Toledo. It's not running right, the exhaust leak is bad and needs a service. That said, I still overtook a couple of cars on the back road:) Lacquer Peel, jaypee, Split_Pin and 18 others 21 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaypee Posted February 24, 2020 Share Posted February 24, 2020 Aye, it's running like a sewing machine now........ Albeit a slightly rich sewing machine 320touring, Tickman and aldo135 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
320touring Posted August 2, 2020 Author Share Posted August 2, 2020 Went to see this today - first time since March.. The battery was reconnected, oil level checked and a request to start was made. Once it was up, it was time to blow up a tyre and check underneath for any telltale pools.. Nice and dry! Burnside, big_al_granvia, LightBulbFun and 18 others 21 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaypee Posted August 2, 2020 Share Posted August 2, 2020 BONUS* HOT POLO ACTION Tickman and 320touring 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
320touring Posted August 2, 2020 Author Share Posted August 2, 2020 7 minutes ago, jaypee said: BONUS* HOT POLO ACTION #cordobadragqueen jaypee 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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